Spitfire fly-past to mark 70th anniversary of US war-time Eagle Squadrons in Kirton Lindsey

A Spitfire fly-past is set to mark the 70th anniversary of the Eagle Squadrons in Kirton in Lindsey.

The three Eagle Squadrons were made up of American pilots who had volunteered to fight before the USA had even joined the Second World War.

RAF Kirton in Lindsey was the base for all three of these squadrons during the war and the town has remembered its affiliation with pilots across the pond.

The anniversary event is being held to mark 70 years since the Eagle Squadrons were transferred from the RAF banner to the USAAF (United States Army Air Force) in 1942.

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There will be three events in the town to mark the occasion, as well as a new stone memorial on The Green to honour the American personnel that were based in Kirton.

Thirteen pilots from the Eagle Squadron are buried in the town's graveyard, having been killed in action during the brutal conflict of the Second World War.

Councillor Billy Boyd, mayor of Kirton in Lindsey, served in the Royal Artillery for 22 years. He said: "The first night of events will involve a talk on the history of the Eagle Squadrons by Dr Roy Heidicker, the Eagle Squadron historian from the Seymour Johnson Airbase in North Carolina, USA.

"We are also hoping to get some American servicemen along for the events, as there are some based at Waddington, Digby and Milton Hall.

"Having American servicemen here would allow them to look back at their own history in England and see how it was so closely tied to Kirton. We want to get as many of them along as possible, because it is such an important period in American aviation history."

This event will take place in the Diamond Jubilee Town Hall at 7.30pm on Friday, September 28, with tickets costing £5. It will be followed the next day, Saturday, September 29, by a memorial service on The Green.

It will also see the unveiling of a new squadron memorial and a fly-past from a Spitfire. The memorial service will start at 3pm and members of the public are invited.

The final event is a 40s and 50s themed dance in the town hall, with the Dance Orchestra of the Band of the RAF Regiment, at 7.30pm on Saturday, September 29.

The dance will be in aid of the RAF Benevolent Fund, with tickets costing £20, to include a pie and peas supper.

For details of the Friday event call Martin Hollingsworth on 01652 648435 or Phil Bonner on 01529 308135. For the dinner and dance call Lynne Duffin on 01652 649094.